Soccer results, Oct. 30

SOCCER

Published 4:00 am, Monday, October 31, 2011

Magee, who has played every position for Los Angeles this season - defender, midfielder, forward, even goalkeeper for one game in June against the Earthquakes - scored the only goal of the match, off a long cross from Beckham, in the 15th minute, giving the Galaxy a 1-0 win against the New York Red Bulls in the first leg of the Western Conference semifinals in Harrison, N.J.

Magee's goal enables Los Angeles to head home needing only a tie Thursday night to advance to the conference finals. The two-game series is based on aggregate goals between the two teams. The Galaxy are unbeaten at home this season at 12-0-5.

Josh Saunders made five saves to earn his ninth shutout in 19 matches this season for the Galaxy, who beat the Red Bulls for the first time in 2011, after a 1-1 tie in May and a 2-1 loss earlier this month in New Jersey.

"Mike is a good player who for the majority of his career has always been good around the penalty area," said Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena, who also coached Magee with the MetroStars and engineered the trade that brought Magee to L.A. "As he's matured as a player, he's been able to handle a variety of roles and did it all for us this year."

Photo: Mel Evans, AP

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New York Red Bulls forward Thierry Henry, bottom, of France, collides with Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder David Beckham, of England, late in the second period of an MLS soccer match Sunday, Oct. 30, 2011, Newark, N.J. Galaxy won 1-0. (AP Photo/Mel Evans) less

New York Red Bulls forward Thierry Henry, bottom, of France, collides with Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder David Beckham, of England, late in the second period of an MLS soccer match Sunday, Oct. 30, 2011, ... more

Photo: Mel Evans, AP

Soccer results, Oct. 30

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Red Bulls forward Henry had a chance in the 22nd minute, when his scissors attempt sailed high toward the goal, but Saunders punched it away at the last second.

New York's Frank Rost made a brilliant save in the 55th minute, keeping the lead at one goal, when he stopped Landon Donovan on breakaway attempt. Donovan was in alone, but Rost made a fine right-handed save on Donovan's shot.

The game was marred by a postgame incident in which Donovan apparently said something to Rafa Marquez, who then took the ball and fired it at Donovan. In the scrum that ensued, Galaxy midfielder Juninho threw a punch at Red Bulls defender Stephen Keel. Referee Alex Prus issued red cards to Marquez and Juninho, suspending both for Thursday.

Dynamo 2, Union 1:

Andre Hainault and Calen Carr scored in the first half to lift visiting Houston past Philadelphia in the first leg of the Eastern Conference semifinals. ... Houston, the former Earthquakes franchise that won the MLS Cup in 2006 and '07, entered the playoffs as one of the hottest clubs in the league.

Sporting Kansas City 2, Rapids 0:

Teal Bunbury scored goals in the 49th and 59th minutes leading visiting K.C. in the Eastern Conference semifinals. ... Defending MLS champion Colorado was without midfielder Jamie Smith, who tore his anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in Thursday's wild card victory over Columbus.